Officials: 4,000 marijuana plants found at 6 Burr Valley area grows

Humboldt County Sheriff's Office officials served search warrants at six marijuana grows in the Burr Valley area and will seek charges from the district attorney's office against numerous suspects, Lt. Steve Knight said today.

Knight said the sheriff's office, assisted by Cal Fire law enforcement officials, found over 4,000 growing marijuana plants Thursday between all of the sites.

"Some of the locations were planned visits, and some the officials found on the way," Knight said. "Some suspects were on site, and at other sites, officials found paperwork indicating people suspected of being involved. No one has physically been arrested yet or taken to jail, and we are looking into filing charges with the district attorney's office."

• According to a press release, 113 growing marijuana plants ranging in height from 1 to 7 feet tall were found at the first location, along with a loaded shotgun. One male suspect on formal probation was identified. The sheriff's office will seek charges of cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana, violation of probation, possession of a loaded firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon against the suspect, according to the release.

• At the second location, deputies located 881 growing marijuana plants ranging in size from 2 to 6 feet tall in 13 greenhouses, along with 58 pounds of drying marijuana, according to the release. Deputies also found environmental concerns, including a 250-gallon diesel tank within 30 feet of a stream with no spill protections and two areas of land conversion with unpermitted removal of trees.

Six suspects from Florida, one woman and five men, have been identified. They told the deputies they spend the summer in Humboldt County and winter in Florida, according to the release. The office will seek charges of cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana. Cal Fire officials will also be seeking criminal charges for violations of the Public Resource Code. Additionally, the case is being forwarded to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for potential violations of the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, according to the release.

• The third location yielded 891 growing marijuana plants ranging in height from 5 to 6 feet, along with 393 pounds of drying marijuana and 8 pounds of marijuana bud packaged in 1-pound bags, the release states.

Seven suspects, three men and four women, have been identified. Criminal charges are being sought against them for cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana. Officers also located an unpermitted road built into a stream bed. Cal Fire officials will be seeking criminal charges for violations of the Public Resource Code, according to the release.

• At the fourth location, 890 growing marijuana plants ranging in size from 5 to 6 feet were found in several greenhouses, according to the release. Deputies also located stream diversion and a large pond dug into the ground.

A Las Vegas man has been identified as a suspect, and charges are being sought for cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana. The case is being forwarded to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for potential violations of the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, according to the release.

• A hash lab and 150 outdoor marijuana plants ranging in size from 5 to 6 feet tall were found at the fifth warrant search. Officials also found about 120 pounds of processed marijuana and hash, according to the release.

Two suspects, a man and a woman, have been identified and arrest warrants are being sought against them for cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana, the release states.

• At the sixth site and largest grow, 1,237 marijuana plants ranging in size from 2 to 5 feet tall were found in five greenhouses, according to the press release. Officials said no suspects have been identified, and the investigation is ongoing.

The sheriff's office encourages anyone with information regarding the cases or related criminal activity to call the office at 445-7251 or the office's crime tip line at 268-2539.